| View Blog
|
|
| The Mystery of the Trinity
|
|
|
Everyone keeps asking for me to write a post on the Trinity, but the one I have written is really too long for this website but if you e-mail me or otherwise request it I will send it your way. But here is a little of it:
The word Tinity is derived from the Latin “tinitas”,literally meaning threefold (trin/us)., the union of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in one God head. Some have stated that the concept of the trinity is of New Testament origin and was not even created until the third century where it was confirmed at the Council of Nicea. The fact is that the plurality of God…the Godhead....was understood and taught in the Old Testament…and was more completely understood with the words of Jesus (Yeshua) and the writings of the New Testament. They understood God Almighty..(Yehovah/ El Elyon/ El Shaddai). They understood the Spirit of God….(Ruach Eloheim/ Ruach Hokodesh). But they didn’t understand the Son….Hameshea…the Messiah.
While Trinitarian concepts are more explicitly laid out in the New Testament, they are implicitly revealed in the Old Testament. Here are a few intimations from the Old Tetament Hebrew:
1. Usage of "one" in a composite sense.
Even though the Old Testament teaches that God is "one," (Deuteronomy 6:4) this does not conflict in any way with Trinitarian beliefs. On the contrary, it actually helps to affirm them. The use of the Hebrew word for "one" (echad) in other clearly demonstrates that this word means "one entity" …or “composite unity”. The Shema reads, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one God.” Shema Yisrael, Adoni Eluheynu Adoni Echad. Does the word for one (Echad)…actually mean one…in singleness? How is the word used in scripture? Adam and Eve were “one flesh”…Basor Echad. Does than mean they inhabited one body? The nation of Israel stood as one man. Ish Echad Does that mean there was one one person in the nation of Israel? The spies took a huge cluster of grapes from the promised land…on a pole that several men had to carry. Eschol Echad Does that mean there was on ly one..300 lb grape? Of course not. The use of the word in scripture shows a “composite unity.”
2. The three persons of the Godhead seen simultaneously both in the Old and New Testaments.
This is truly an incredible scripture. Isaiah 48:5-17. The one speaking has already identified Himself as God. Verse 12:” I am the First. I am also the Last. 13: My hand has laid the foundation of the Earth.”
Verse 16: “Come near to me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was…I was there. And now, the LORD GOD (Yehovah) and His Spirit (Ruach Elohhim) has sent Me. (there is the Trinity..the Godhead) 17: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way that you should go.” Who is this? …. Yeshua…(Jesus).
If you would like some more of the text..just drop me a line. God Bless
|
|
Posted by journeyman on 2008-01-13 03:02:26 | Rating: | Views: 345
|
|
| |
|
|
| Blog Comments
|
|
|
|
my brain hurts, lol. i thought trinity was like God, Jesus and then the Holy ghost guy.
I was never very good at this sort of thing
|
|
Posted by Jeshikan
on 2008-01-13 03:05:21
|
|
|
|
|
Well, think of it like this. You are made in God's image. Now that doesn't mean that God is male or female, white or black, tall or short...actually God is spirit. But He made mankind like Himself in that we are also three portions of our being...body, soul and spirit. And those can be separated from each other. When you die..your body is in the grave...but your soul and spirit leaves and goes to be with God .. or a place awaiting judgement (we know that place as Hell). But there is still just ONE of you!! There is only ONE God, but in three distinct parts or persons. This unity is called the Godhead. Does your brain still hurt? lol Sorry. Ha..Ha..
|
|
Posted by journeyman
on 2008-01-13 03:12:41
|
|
|
|
|
lol, nope. makes more sense to me, thanks. but whats the difference between soul and spirit? sounds similar.
|
|
Posted by Jeshikan
on 2008-01-13 03:25:04
|
|
|
|
|
The Soul is that part of you..that really is uniquly you..your personality, emotions, intellect. .. but your spirir is that portion of your being that not only gives you life..but that was specially made to have a relationship with your creator. When you first see a person..you see their "outward" person.. there body. Then they start to talk...and you begin to see ther "inward" person...but when they pray or praise...you begin to see their "inner most person". Kind of layered on top of each other. That is why.. you can't judge the book by the cover.
|
|
Posted by journeyman
on 2008-01-13 03:40:50
|
|
|
|
Sorry, but I don't see Is.48:16 that way.
I just don't see a trinity here. I see 3 distinct entities - but not 3 in one. If it had said the three were 1, then I would certainly have to agree. But it only mentions the Creator, his Holy Spirit and his Son, Jesus Christ - it doesn't say the three are 1 - just that there are three.
I have the Interlinear Bible published by the Trinitarian Bible Society of London England. Scriptures are published in Hebrew, Greek and English. It lists verse by verse in the original language, and then translates word by word - not paraphrasing. So, you would have to think that they also support your thoughts on Is. 48.
What I found interesting after checking, is the wording ...
(keep in mind that a direct translation into English doesn't read easily!)
but here's what it says...
remember - it's a DIRECT translation into English...
Is.48:16,17
"in secret the from beginning not; this hear to me; Come near .way his makes he succeed and sent me has Jehovah the lord and now; I (was) there being its the from of time have I spoken Jehovah I (am), Israel Holy the of One, your Jehovah redeemer says thus"
Like I say, this is a direct translation from Hebrew to English - the name 'Jehovah' was there in print.
This scripture is not referring to Jesus in Vs.17, it's referring to Jehovah, the Almighty.
What are your thoughts on this?
|
|
Posted by 50gumbyss
on 2008-01-14 06:17:41
|
|
|
|
Oh, this same publication (Interlinear Bible) also puts the scriptures into an easier to understand English, and this is what is says about Is. 48:16 ...
Come near to me; hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. I was there; and now the Lord Jehovah, and His spirit has sent me.
So says Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am Jehovah your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
|
|
Posted by 50gumbyss
on 2008-01-14 06:24:13
|
|
|
|
Hi Lori,
Thanks for reply and your comments. I finished seminary back in 1986.., I know that makes me old...right? But I still use my interlinear. The problem is that anytime you translate from one language to another there is a loss. Some words translated are actually interpreted from expressions or cultural anomalies in which there is no true parallel. Interlinear Bibles break down the word to it root meaning and seldom reflect clauses, object compliments, grammatical ambiguities, prepositional phrases…etc. That is why it appears so choppy when trying to read it. Actually the best way to really look at a text is using parallel bibles translations (noticed I did not say transliterations….those are paraphrases). Also the Amplified Bible is very useful. The Word of God is like studying a diamond. Just when you think you figure it out…God moves the diamond and you see a whole new facet. The purpose of the Blog was to show the plurality of the Godhead, so as you read Isaiah 48:5-17, you see three distinct persons. But at the same time, each is identified as God. The one speaking, by whom all things were created (Col 1:16)… the first and the last (Rev 1:17/ 2:8), is Jesus, (God the Son) Yet, He is sent by the Lord God (God the Father) and His Spirit (God the Holy Spirit).
First, understand that the Christian scriptures…..and therefore the Jewish Old Testament is monotheistic. That is the basis of our faith. Every morning every Jewish boy…and, yes, Jesus too,...when he first woke up in the morning said the.. “Shema”. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God”. I already shared with you the uniqueness of the word “Echad” used for One. Now hear is an example of where a interlinear might be of use. The actual rendering of that text is.. “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God…the Lord is One”. As a Jewish family enters a house the first thing they do is touch the Mezuzuh on the doorpost, which contains a scroll with the “Shema” on it (Deut. 6:4). This basis of the Bible is reflected on every page. He says, I am the LORD and there is none else”.
But at the same time we see, constant references and expressions of plurality in this unity. In Genesis 19 we see the visitors who come to deliver Lot and his family (only because of the friendship and covenant with Abraham) identified as LORD (Jehovah), who calls upon the LORD (Jehovah) to rain down brimstone from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah. We see the three that visit Abram in the desert in Genesis 18 and they..are identified as LORD (Jehovah). And yet there is only ONE God. Psalm 110:1, David writes, The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.” So we see, either God lied and there is actually a pantheon of gods, or God has multiple personality disorder or there is One God….with three distinctive persons within that One God…the Godhead…like us made tri-partic. . Three distinct portions of our being….and yet only one of us.
By the way try the Interlinear with Greek/Parallel Bible by Timothy and Barbra Friberg and Neva Miller. Also Jay Green’s Greek/Hebrew/English Interlinear is pretty good…but a bit abrupt. It also cross references with Strong’s. But remember it usually breaks the words down to the root words which may alter the meaning. Use a parallel. I really hoped this helps. Have a good time studying!!! God Bless
|
|
Posted by journeyman
on 2008-01-17 02:54:07
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email This to a Friend 
